AirVenture kicks into high gear with airshow, Chicago

Jul. 29, 2013

Aeroshell Team performs during the air show. Experimental Aircraft Associations AirVenture kicked off on July, 29. 2013. People from all over the world travel to Oshkosh for AirVenture making Oshkosh one of the busiest airports in the world. / JOE SIENKIEWICZ/Oshkosh Northwestern Media

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Steve Flippin is no stranger to air shows.

The Winston-Salem, N.C. man is the director of the Winston-Salem Air Show, but Monday was his first time experiencing the week-long spectacle that is the Experimental Aircraft Association's’ AirVenture.

“It’s one of those trips, if you’re an aviation enthusiast, you have to take,” Flippin said.

Flippin was among the thousands of people who streamed onto the Experimental Aircraft Association’s AirVenture grounds on the opening day of the convention.

Whether it was finding out about the latest aircraft technology, finding elusive aircraft parts, listening to forums to learn about ways to build, fly or maintain an aircraft or just wandering the flight line looking at the wide variety of airplanes that make the trip to Oshkosh each year, there was something to interest every person that steps foot on the AirVenture grounds.

The common theme for everyone on the AirVenture grounds and what often keeps them coming back year after year? A passion for aviation.

“It’s the people,” said Bill Knighton, of Wausau. “The aviation community is very small and this is the only place you can go to meet a lot of aviation people.”

Knighton said his family has been coming to AirVenture for over 25 years and each year they return they discover a new piece of information or find something new to do.

One thing missing from this year’s AirVenture is the current military aircraft that can usually be found on the grounds. Due to the federal budget cuts, there will be no current fighter jets displayed on Phillips 66 Plaza and not as many federal government agencies are presenting information about their programs at the Federal Pavillion.

But Jack Pelton, EAA Chairman of the Board, said the lack of current military aircraft and federal agencies would not hurt this year’s gathering.

“We’ve got enough innovations of our own to be able to fill the skies,” Pelton said.

Filling the skies is exactly what EAA did during Monday’s air show.

On Monday, the nearly four-hour long air show featured 22 acts, ranging from the popular Aeroshell Team to wingwalkers to an appearance by “Dusty,” the star of Disney’s newest movie, “Planes.” There was innovation as well, with a flight by the Terrafugia Transition, a vehicle that is capable of flying or driving on roads.

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“Without the military acts here, the lineup for the air show is bigger than we’ve ever had before, with a lot more variety and types of acts,” Pelton said. “We’re trying to choreograph it differently. In the past, we had (blocks) … we’re trying to weave that all together. We hope that choreography turns out to be something everybody appreciates.”

Monday’s airshow was followed by a performance by the rock band Chicago.

Ed Lins isn’t a pilot, but he sadi he couldn’t pass up an opportunity to experience AirVenture when his brother-in-law Lyle Stacy suggested a trip to Oshkosh to fulfill a bucket list item.

The Washington, Iowa man said he does like airplanes though, especially those that fly fast and are loud. He was a little disappointed there would not be any of those loud, fast military jets, but he was still looking forward to seeing what AirVenture was all about.

While waiting for the afternoon air show to begin, Lins summed up his thoughts on what he’d seen at AirVenture so far.